Monday, March 12, 2007

Thinking Out of the Cubicle

My darlings! My ducks! My puddings! Over a month since last we spoke- and every moment was as a thousand years. When last we met, I was having a Friday afternoon existential crisis. But after putting my chakras back in their rightful places, and generally sleeping through Spring Break, I am back and ready for action.

So what's going on in my life? Well, to be perfectly honest...I'm not terribly sure. I'm facing the summertime, and pondering what to do with myself once out of classes for the semester (I will not be taking summer classes in a desperate attempt to stave off reality for as long as humanly possible.) So I have a decision: whether to stay in Boston, with its excitement, its beauty, and its exorbitantly high cost of living, or head for quieter (and cheaper) pastures in the wilds of Northwest Ohio. Oh what is a poor slave to the Fourth Estate to do?

And then, of course, the pivotal question that must arise: once I decide where I'm going to live, what on Earth will I do? I've realized that in addition to my part-time internships, I'm going to need another well-paying job with which to feed and clothe myself, not to mention save moolah for next school year. I have my beloved place here, of course, which I will keep until boston.com decides they've had enough of my tomfoolery. But I do this for love, not money, and so must run headlong back into the job market, to find a place to answer phones and hone my conflict-resolution skills.

In my processes of finding gainful employment, I have often sought advice from my dear papa, who is himself a job counselor, as well as a ship aficionado and all-around good guy. He's helpful especially when it comes to thinking outside the box- beyond, say the waitress/secretary/cashier summer gigs. He's showed me that if you are tired of the same old routine every summer, to try something new, with the help of bulletin boards, a few good connections, and the almighty Craigslist.

Work for an Elderly Person

This is a good idea for those in sociology, nursing, or human services. There are many elderly people who may be spry and social, but need help with their groceries or driving to doctors' appointments. Lots of people can either give you free room and board in exchange for your help, or will pay you to come and run errands, etc. Check out an example at Lisa's Hands of Time.

House sit:

It's like Risky Business… without the brothel. Or the gambling. Or pre-insanity Tom Cruise dancing in his underwear. Ok, so it's nothing like Risky Business. But if one needs a place to stay, there are people willing to give you houseroom in exchange for watering the plants, walking the dog, and making sure they don’t get robbed while they’re in the Bahamas. This is a good idea for those who like to be on the move, with little in the way of personal belongings, and can save you thousands in rent money. If you're a sublet kind of person, this could be an option for you. Check out housecarers.com where for a small fee you can create a profile and search for people who need a house sitter.

Work on a cruise ship:

Flirt with CFOs for tips… without the sexual harassment suit. If you have charm, a love of boats and are immune to seasickness you may want to try getting a job on a small cruise boat. There are several in Boston harbor, which do corporate events, parties and tourist pleasure cruises. The tips can be fantastic, the job is in the open air, and you’ll have plenty of booze cruise stories at the end of it. Check out Spirit City Cruises and Massachusetts Bay Lines.

Check craigslist:

Yes, I'm aware that craigslist is chock-full of "job offers" that are…less than virtuous. Obviously, the guy who’s advertising for a "live-in female companion under 25" is not the type you want as your employer. But there are scads of legitimate jobs that are just crazy enough to be refreshing. On any given day, there can be postings for dog walkers, telemarketers, promotions distributors, baby sitters, goat herders and psychics. Check out boston.craigslist.com.

Posted by ejohnson at 10:25 PM

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